(Image source from: Newsbytesapp.com)

Meta is getting ready to make some big changes to its products, including new subscription options for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook users. The company has shared its intentions through a report, indicating that the paid versions will be distinct from the Verified plan and will provide users with unique features that won't be accessible to all users on these platforms. Meta has been trying out different approaches as it aims to generate revenue from its user base on these apps, and with the increasing integration of AI, opportunities for premium versions have improved. The details about the special features planned for these apps are not fully disclosed yet, but it’s likely there will be a variety of tools available only to paying users. According to a report from TechCrunch, Meta plans to include its Manus AI agent within these plans and also to run it on Instagram to increase AI access for its users.

The report also mentions that AI tools like Vibes, which allow users to create short AI videos, may be introduced into this ecosystem when it becomes available to more people, probably later this year. For Instagram users, Meta might provide features such as the ability to see who is not following you back or the option to view a Story without notifying the person that you have seen it. Meta could have initially tested the Verified version and, with its various AI tools ready, is likely to offer another premium plan that would charge users while still keeping free accounts unaffected. The company also needs to address the privacy issues that these AI features raise and reassure users that their data or any information on these apps, especially WhatsApp (which now shows ads), will not be used for training its AI models. WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook have largely functioned as free services since they started. However, Meta has invested billions in acquiring these platforms and perhaps now believes it is the right time to start earning money from them. That said, it is unclear how many users would actually be willing to pay for them.